We two, not four, are going to Ireland this summer. Based on Fodor's, Lonely Planet, and "favourite driving itineraries", we've came up with a rough 8 day itinerary, and we got some feedback. It basically was "you're doing to much". So, we thought we'd cut out the drive through the south and Waterford, and go directly to Connemara from Dublin. It would be wonderful if you could let us know any changes we should make. If you have problems commenting, email me and I can put them on the site if you'd like.
Day (overnight location): itinerary
Day 0 (Dublin): Arrival day around noon
Day 1 (Dublin): around Dublin
Day 2 (Dublin): Near Dublin (Tara, Newgrange, Russborough or Powerscourt)
Day 3 (Connemara): Travel to Connemara
Day 4 (Connemara): Clifden and Sky road, maybe dinner Ballinrobe
Day 5 (Galway): travel to Galway, around Galway
Day 6 (Galway): Kayaking in Galway Bay
Day 7 (Kenmare): South to Killarney via the burren and Cliffs of Moher, ending at Kenmare
Day 8 (Kenmare): Ring of Kerry ending with dinner in Kenmare, maybe Gap of Dunloe
Day 9 (Kenmare): Leave 7:30 am for 2 1/2 hour drive to Shannon noon departure
Is this too packed in general? Let us know if we should drop something in favour of something else. Should we drop one of Connemara or Kerry? Should we shorten up the Saturday near Dublin and do Newgrange and stately home on the way to West? That would cause missing a night in Dublin, which seems like a lot of fun. Is there not enough time for Cliffs of Moher and burren in the drive between Connemara and Kerry? Should we stay more north of Kenmare, say Killorglin, to avoid some backtracking?
4 stops with some recommended hotels:
Dublin: La Stampa, O'Callaghan Alexander, Browne's, the Shelbourne (pricy), number 31 or the Mont Clare. We'd like to be near St. Stephen's green.
Kenmare: Fodor's recommends Sheen Falls Lodge but expensive, Fodor's recommends Park Hotel but 1 guest said it was way past it's prime.
Connemara: A friend has recommended loughinaghlodgehotel.ie
Galway: Fodors recommends Radisson SAS. Fodor's mentions Adare Guest House
Food
Recommendations at http://foodandwine.net/.
I've heard a good review about about J.J. Gannons in Ballinrobe. We're interested in top 2-3 new Irish cuisine. Kinsale is known for Irish food renaissance, but Fodor's doesn't list any "recommended". Is a trip to Kinsale for the food worth it, or Kenmare, or some other places?
driving research
Kinsale to Kenmare: 1hr 45 mins, so probably too long for after a nice dinner.
Dublin to Kenmare direct: 4 1/2 hrs
Dublin to Waterford: 2 1/2 hrs
Waterfrod to Kenmare: 3 1/4 hrs
Kenmare to Galway via limerick or ferry: 4 hrs
Galway to Shannon: 1 1/2 hrs
Kenmare to Shannon: 2 1/2 hrs
Lough Inagh Lodge to Galway: 46 miles, 60 minutes?
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